The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16
Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1887.
The "CoIumbia Register"

Our friend, the defender Of the Columbia ca
nal, seems to misunderstood our remarks
about the work Of the recent Court at Aooe-
willie. We meant no reflection at all on the
Court. but we had reference TO the very law
which the Register quotes. That law pre-
scr,bes the duty of the Court, and imposes a
punishment on criminals which, we think, is
excessive and cruel.
We would not confer on Trial Justices the
right TO send men to the peritentiary, hut we
would demonstrate against Keeping on our
books the bloodiest and most cruel code Of
laws that were ever made suhscrrient TO the
malicious prosecutor of weak and defrnceless
citizen. However much we may be IN error
we believe that prosecutions either to crafty
malice, or to throw costs into some ood!
pockets may sometimes have something to do
I'm making up the business Of our Courts.
While we would not be cruel to any citizen
we would he just to the tax payers. The ma
chinory of the Court IS expensive, ana the
Idea of calling on South Carolina Judge 10
try either woman charged with steallng an
anron full of corn or q man for stealing pig.
is enough to hiring both the Circuit Court and
our lawmakers into public contempt.
While excessively 'plous and Christian
Judges may feel that they are serving the
Lord by sending the iron deep into The souls
of their erring fcllow-citizcns. yet that nh
manity, OF which true Christianity Is the eN'
ponent, would teach us TO feel anothers woe.
and would exercise that influence over US
which would restrain us from deeds oi cruelty
TO the humblest creatures that live.
Since the Register has asked us some queS-
tions, if our friend will pardon us. we Will ask
him a question or two: Will that paper
please tell us what 1t thinks oe the law which
makes it sin to have no property which the
tax-collector can find. and which makes IL a
crime to be unable TO pay pol tax to sus-
tain an iniauitous school system from which
the poor are denied pro rata benefits?
If our friend does not object, we would be
glad for him 10 explain the equal Justice CT
excnsine the people Of Charleston from pay
ing a poll tax while country people who neg
ect to pay that tax nre jerked up before our
Courts and lodged IN jail.
We trust that our neighbor Will think o.
this: Charleston has two Senators, ana
twelve members in the House OF Representa-
;!vcs and more voters than any other county
In the State, and yet that county has fewer
POLLS for taxation than any other county IL
tn" State. Tell lis, friend, ii tne laws vi 'n'S
State are equally enforced.
We will thank our friend II he Will kindly
give his opinion of the law and the Conr'
which would impose life sentence on chill
dren charged with burglary. 'See minutes OF
Court AT Sumter last weekly We charge moth
Ing to Judge Norton. We believe him to b"
an upright Judge, but he is new Judge VINO
may not have been familiar with the mer''l
ulness as we'll rs the severity with which the
Court may deal with ignorant and dcfenceless
prisoners. In his new position he may have
forgotten to allow the jury the privilege O.
recommending these youthful criminals 70
some degree of mercy. We are perfectly sure
that Judge Norton would not willingly iniic'
so unmercifui a sentence on children, and We
shall he disappointed in the man II he doe
not ask for Communication of the sentence.
and we shall be greatly disappointed If Gov
ernor Richardson does not commute the SEN
tepce.
I. the law IS not wrong. and II our Courts
are inst. why does the Governor so often fee!
justified in setting aside the sentences OF the
Court?